Showing results for "bullying"

• present participle of bully.

bullying

American  

[bool-ee-ing] / ˈbʊl i ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of harassing, intimidating, or abusing others, especially habitually or from a perceived position of relative power.

   Bullying and stress can impact students' experiences at school.

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Other Word Forms

• unbullying
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of bullying

First recorded in 1675–85; bully ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Bullying is the act of intimidating someone else. Threatening to beat up your little brother if he doesn't clean your room for you is most certainly an act of bullying. You may have heard of the word bully, which is a person, often young, who harasses others. A schoolyard bully might call you names, steal your lunch money, and generally make your life miserable. Bullying is the act of being a bully. Believe it or not, bullying can be serious business with grave consequences. There are even laws that require schools to take action against bullying.

Example Sentences

“While we cannot comment on the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit, Redlands Unified takes concerns involving discrimination, harassment, bullying, and student well-being seriously,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

But O’Donnell has refused to be cowed by the president’s bullying for nearly 20 years.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

"I have done everything I can to address what I feel is unfairness and bullying and after a year of trying to get it addressed I have decided enough is enough."

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

“It’s the subtle hidden bullying that’s the worst,” Kaplan Jørgensen says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Though Robinson owned her own car and rarely rode the city bus, the memory of the driver’s bullying behavior and how humiliated she had felt wouldn’t go away.

From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose

Related Words

• imperious